The truck was spotted in the Qijiang District of Chongqing, and the driver was forced to pull over. Of the wide array of pedigree and mixed breeds discovered on board, many still had tags or collars, meaning they are likely to have been stolen from their homes.

One month on from the New Year Rescue that saw six bears arrive at Animals Asia’s sanctuary in Chengdu from an illegal bear bile farm in Sichuan Province, each has undergone successful surgery to remove their damaged gall bladders.

Oliver, one of Animals Asia’s most loved and celebrated bears, is recovering at the China Bear Rescue Centre after a successful operation to remove his right eye. He had developed a luxated lens, where the lens moves causing inflammation as well as significant pain and discomfort.

Five wild-caught elephant calves due to be sent from Zimbabwe to Chinese zoos have been saved from a life of misery. Thanks to pressure put on the Zimbabwe Parks Authority they have now been sent instead to a national park in Zimbabwe to be rehabilitated back into the wild.

Two weeks on from the rescue of six bears on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 from an illegal bear farm by the Sichuan Forestry Department and Animals Asia, four have now completed initial surgery to remove damaged and infected gall bladders.